Renewables Roundup October 2010

Recent Projects The Crown Estate - the world's first commercial wave and tidal electricity project

Onshore Renewables Solar panels – increased presence in the consumer household market

Proposals to raise the Section 36 consent threshold for onshore hydro schemes

Offshore Renewables The Crown Estate launches demonstration site leasing round for Saltire Prize

Renewable obligation certificates rate for tidal projects not increased

Legislation/Policy Updates Consultation published for draft UK Marine Policy statement

Scotland's target for renewable energy increased

Micro-generation: Proposed extension of permitted development rights to non-domestic property

Renewable Energy - related topics Fossil Fuel Levy

Green Investment Bank

New patent search engine for environmentally sound technologies

Recent Projects:

Anderson Strathern LLP acted as the lead Solicitor to The Crown Estate in the completion of Agreements for Lease for the world's first commercial wave and tidal electricity project. In March 2010, ten Agreements for Lease for a proposed 1.2 GW of installed capacity were granted for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area, said to be amongst the best locations for generating electricity by wave and tidal power in the world. In addition to being a key step towards delivery of the statutory reduction in gas emissions set in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Pentland Firth developments will create opportunities in infrastructure projects and supply chains throughout Scotland.

Anderson Strathern's team was led by Partners Gavin Thain, Deborah Lovell and Senior Solicitor Dixcee Fast with support from the firm's real estate and corporate groups.

In March, Gavin Thain said, "This is an exciting project for The Crown Estate and for all the developers. Unlike wind power, wave and tidal power is an industry yet to be developed on a commercial scale making the challenges quite different. The Crown Estate and developers worked together to create a framework for the development of technology.

From a lawyer's perspective it is a fascinating and unique privilege to be involved in what is virtually the birth of an industry – especially one so central to the economic development of Scotland, not to mention the climate change questions facing us all. Being unique, the Project created its own legal challenges that required innovative solutions to problems that had not been considered at a commercial or legal level before".

Gavin leads the team advising The Crown Estate, whose consent is required for any...